THE DAYS OF LAUD.

CHAPTER III.

MARK WENTWORTH did not find the task of removing the painted window an easy one. Some of the old, and most of the ignorant in his parish, prized the gaudy toy, and their prejudices became clamorous when they found their minister determined to effect his purpose. Their anger and discontent were increased by the malicious acts of Hobbes, one of the churchwardens, who hated the meek man of God with a bitter hatred. Mark Wentworth had reproved Hobbes for living in open unrepented sin.

At last the painted window was removed. The other churchwarden seconded all his minister's efforts, and they stood together in the aisle of the church looking at the panes of plain glass with rejoicing hearts, and thanking God who had enabled them to remove the stumblingblock, not only out of the way of the present generation, but of their posterity, to whose feet it might have proved a snare.

When he came out of the church, Wentworth took his way towards Brindsley Hall. Two months had passed since he confessed his attachment to Lucy Camden, and during that period some changes had taken place. Cuthbert, after giving vent to his feelings of joy at the prospect of calling Wentworth brother, left

Laytonfield; but his absence this time was expected to be of short duration.

Sir Humphrey Clive also heard of the projected marriage of his niece, and he frowned upon a union which he had no authority to forbid. Wentworth's visits formerly so pleasant, were utterly distasteful to the angry baronet. He had meditated high alliances for Lucy, and to be thwarted by a foolish girl and a fanatical parson!' Still he suffered Wentworth at his house, only contriving by his haughty and distant manner to render his visits so painful, that it required a motive strong indeed to induce him to repeat them, as he did again and again.

Another change, and that by far the most important, was the arrival of a new chaplain. Mr. Atterbury had not yet taken up his residence at the Hall. He spent a few days there, and then left it to complete some arrangements elsewhere, which he represented as extremely important. Mark Wentworth had not met him. Lucy spake not of him, and therefore the minister of the parish knew nothing of one whom he expected might prove a fellow-helper in his great work, save through the lavish encomiums of Marion Clive, and her mother.

As he trod with rapid steps his well-known way to the Hall, his spirits became unusually buoyant, and his heart danced lightly in his breast. He had cast the fear of man behind his back; he had executed a perilous duty at a time when the star-chamber and the High Commission court were thundering forth their censures on all who should sacrilegiously disturb the remains of ancient corruption. This he has dared to do; he gave God the glory, and was now hastening to tell of his success, where he knew one heart at least would rejoice in his joy.

As he entered the large old-fashioned parlour in which the ladies of the family usually sat, he heard Sir Humphrey Clive say in a tone of angry determination: 'I tell thee, niece, we'll have as merry a Church Ale on Sunday next, as ever Laytonfield saw in the good old times, and the puritan parson shall do sore penance for his sacrilege, by reading the king's declaration in the face of the whole congregation.'

'The Puritan Parson dare not do so,' said Mark Wentworth, returning the baronet's stiff salutation, 'since it runs counter to the declaration of the King of kings, "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy."

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'It is rumoured,' replied Sir Humphrey, that an order for enforcing obedience in this matter will be sent down to Laytonfield in a few days. I would counsel you, sir, to overcome all foolish qualms of conscience, and to yield a ready compliance. Refusal might be perilous.'

Mark Wentworth glanced uneasily towards Lucy Camden. Her cheek was paler than usual, and her eye was fixed anxiously upon him, as she eagerly listened to his reply—' It is the Christian's lot, sir,' he said, 'to be in "perils among false brethren," though I knew not that I had a foe sufficiently powerful to bring this trouble upon me.'

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'I would we could learn what detains my brother and Mr. Atterbury,' said Lucy abruptly, turning to her cousin Marion. Cuthbert promised to be here yesternight, and my uncle expected Mr. Atterbury at noon to-day.'

'.I rejoice to hear you at last express a wish for Mr. Atterbury's return, Lucy,' said Marion, with some bitterness. 'I marvelled much that you took so little delight in his conversation when he was here.'

'I understood it not,' said Lucy. His discourse is so mingled with "the speech of Ashdod," that it is too dark for unlearned ears.'

'Ashdod!' said Lady Clive in a tone of surprise. 'I thought Mr. Atterbury spoke English with remarkable purity. He never uttered even a word of Latin in my hearing.'

'Cuthbert and our new chaplain have not yet met,' said Marion. 'I thought'

'God grant they never may!' fervently ejaculated Lucy.

The eyes of all her auditors turned at once towards her for farther explanation, but Lucy was quietly labouring with her needle, and seemed to design no elucidation of her mysterious words.

"Your brother might have found profit in the converse of so good a man, Lucy,' said her aunt. 'And

you ought to rejoice in the opportunity thus afforded of convincing Cuthbert of some errors into which he has lately fallen.'

́ I believe,' said Lucy calmly, 'the means taken to refute those errors would be indeed convincing. Cuthbert is far too honest to conceal his sentiments, even where the utterance of them might be fraught with danger.'

'But why talk of danger, Lucy?' asked Marion. What can you fear from such a man as Mr. Atterbury? so holy-so devout. In addition to the public services of the day, I have seen him frequently retire into the chapel to perform his private devotions.'

The Lord could hear him in his own closet,' said Lucy, even did he altogether follow the blessed Saviour's precept, and "shut to the door."

'He is a very pattern of mortification and self-denial,' said Marion; fasts twice or thrice in the week.'

'So also did the Pharisee,' returned Lucy, ' of whom our Lord testified that be went not down to his house

justified.'

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'There is scarcely a poor man on my father's estate who has not already tasted of his bounty,' said Marion. Though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, I am nothing," replied Lucy, leaving her text to apply itself.

Sir Humphery Clive did not once interrupt his niece, while she thus animadverted upon the character of a man whom he had taken into special favour. Surprise, and perhaps a kind of awe at the dignity of her manner, with some other motive not so apparent, prevailed to keep him silent. Mark Wentworth did not speak, for he felt that Lucy's words contained a special warning for him, and he was anxious to discover their meaning more clearly without asking questions, which she might have found it difficult to answer before her relatives. But when she ceased speaking, the remembrance of Sir Humphrey's threat concerning the Church-ale, came back into his mind, and he took a formal leave of Lady Clive and her daughter; but when he held out his hand to Lucy, she rose from her seat, and looking earnestly in his face, said with a firm unfaltering voice, "Be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briars and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions.' Then suddenly checking herself, she added, Nay, that I need not say, for thou wilt never be afraid to "declare the whole counsel of God." Therefore I will rather tell thee whom thou shalt fear, Fear one who will come to thee as an angel of light, and when his robe looks whitest, and his wings seem plumed with gold, then fear thou most.'